Kotkhai rape to cast shadow on Assembly session

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 21

The flak drawn by the state government over inept handling of the sensational rape and murder of the 16-year-old Kotkhai girl is likely to cast its shadow on the four-day monsoon session of the Vidhan Sabha, the last in this term of the Virbhadra Government.

The session commencing tomorrow is likely to witness heated debates and frayed tempers over the deteriorating law and order situation. Opposition BJP is preparing to make the deteriorating law and order situation in the state the main issue for discussion and will demand a debate on it.

Both the Congress as well as the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) will be holding their meetings tonight to chalk out their strategy. Some Bills, including the Medical Sciences University Bill, is also likely to be tabled and passed by the house.

Having faced criticism on the manner in which the rape and murder of the Class X school girl was ‘mishandled’, the government will have a lot to answer. However, with the high court monitoring the investigations being undertaken by the CBI, the state government could take the plea that since the matter is sub judice it cannot be taken up for any discussion or debate.

However, the BJP seems to have made up its mind on taking on the government on the Kotkhai case and its various aspects. The custodial death of one of the rape and murder accused Suraj has put the police department in the dock and the BJP will seek detailed report on this too, said Opposition legislators.

Satpal Singh Satti, state BJP president, said there had been a surge in crime which had shaken the faith of the people in the ability of this government to check such disturbing incidents.

The government, on the other hand, will try to turn the tables on the government over the discriminatory approach of the Modi regime in making budgetary allocation to Himachal in various schemes. The delay in laying the foundation stone of the AIIMS by Union Health Ministry is another issue on which the ruling party will try to embarrass the BJP. The state Health Minister has been maintaining that the tasks such as identifying the land and completing the formalities like seeking forest clearance have been undertaken.